Balanced, Protected, and Informed O&M for Active Daily Living

The cane frame is obvious for a reason. The See My Cane Frame campaign helps sighted people understand why visible Belt Canes give blind children clearer next-step confidence, protected personal space, and pride in moving independently.

How a grant from the Gibney Family Foundation helped Safe Toddles build a more stable Belt Cane frame for older children and young people who need extended touch feedback to walk independently because they are blind or mobility visually impaired. For Safe Toddles, that question became a challenge we were determined to solve. Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Gibney Family Foundation, Safe Toddles was able to bring together engineers, researchers, students, staff, and volunte

Why wait for a young blind child to master a handheld cane? Learn how the Belt Cane provides body-centered tactile feedback while children are learning to walk and explore independently.

The Belt Cane’s rectangular frame protects the space directly in front of a blind child before the child’s body enters it. This protected next step can change mobility from hand-holding and collisions to safer, more confident independent movement.

Use one short summer video to document your blind child’s O&M skills, show how the Belt Cane supports safer travel, and ask your IEP or IFSP team to put assistive technology, training, and measurable mobility goals in writing.

Safe Toddles is pleased to announce a $17,500 grant from the Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation to advance Phase III of the Blind Baby Safe Mobility Program. Building on the Foundation's continued support, this next phase will help professionals navigate insurance, IEP, and IFSP systems to secure access to Pediatric Belt Canes and advocate for children to have consistent access to their mobility devices throughout daily life, including school, sports, recreation, and community ac

Independent mobility is not learned in a single lesson. It grows through everyday experience: every playground visited, every restaurant explored, every family outing, and every walk around the neighborhood. When children with an MVI/B trust the information provided through extended touch feedback of the Belt Cane, they gain more than mobility. They gain confidence, connection, and the freedom to belong.

Extended touch feedback gives blind children the confidence to navigate school independently. Learn simple summer activities that prepare your child to wear a Pediatric Belt Cane throughout the school day.

Preparing your blind child for the first day of school starts long before the school bell rings. Discover fun summer activities that build independent mobility, confidence, and school readiness through extended touch feedback with the Pediatric Belt Cane.

Is your blind child ready for school? Discover the self-advocacy, mobility, and motor skills children should practice before the first day of school to build confidence, independence, and successful participation in the classroom.

Freedom means having room to move. Learn how the Pediatric Belt Cane gives blind children the touch information they need for safe, independent mobility.

Summer gives children endless chances to practice social skills at playgrounds, splash pads, family gatherings, camps, and neighborhood playdates. One of the earliest social skills children learn in these moments is personal space: how close to stand, when to move closer, and when to step back. Personal space through mobility tools for social engagement is rarely discussed but incredibly important part of participating alongside your peers, not physically touching—alongside.

Every child deserves the freedom to explore. Read Wesley's inspiring story and discover how mobility support helped a blind toddler move toward people, play, and independence.

Walking is one of the most celebrated milestones of childhood—and one of the first achievements we immediately take for granted. For blind children, however, independent walking has historically been delayed and often attributed to blindness itself. What happens when young children with blindness gain access to extended touch feedback that provides information about the world ahead of them? The answer may be surprisingly ordinary: walking becomes effortless, natural, and almo

Excerpt: Want blind kids to take off the bubble wrap this summer? Start with what actually helps: a Pediatric Belt Cane, movement-rich play, and a healthy respect for touch as the star of the show.

At the heart of mobility development is the idea that children with an MVI/B learn best by living mobility.

Summer is a perfect time for children to explore, play, and learn through new experiences. For children with visual impairments or blindness who are now mobile using the Pediatric Belt Cane, finding engaging and accessible activities can be a challenge. The Safe Toddles Summer Blog Series 2026 is designed to fill this gap by offering weekly posts filled with fun activities, games, and challenges tailored specifically for children with visual, cognitive and motor impairments

A viral video of a three-year-old girl climbing independently with a Pediatric Belt Cane sparked both praise and criticism online. But the backlash reveals a deeper societal bias: blind children have historically been denied the extended touch feedback they need for safe, confident, independent movement. This article explains why the Belt Cane is not “too much touch” — it is the equivalent of turning on the lights for a child who cannot rely on vision.

Mother’s Day is a special time to honor the incredible role mothers play in our lives. This year, we invite you to experience a touching video that captures the essence of motherhood. The video shows mothers around the world helping their blind children with Belt Canes, simple yet powerful moments that highlights a mother's care, patience, and love.

Maddox began using the Belt Cane at age 2. This short shows his progression toward independent mobility, including walking confidently through familiar environments, navigating school routines, and getting on and off the school bus—even in snowy conditions. Despite intellectual delays, he demonstrates strong spatial understanding and real-world independence through consistent tactile feedback and early mobility support.